Making music with care leavers

Subfrantic’s recording studio and their Sound Engineer Liam, who is an ArtsTrain alumni

This summer we were back working with long-term partner Bromley Children Looked After to offer a summer school for young people in Bromley aged 17 to 22 who have left the care system.

Based at The Churchill Theatre, young people created original tracks by expressing their ideas through music and lyrics, recording five songs at Subfrantic RecordingStudio, where they were able to gain experience of being in a professional studio setting. The young people will be sharing their tracks later this year at the Bromley Virtual School Celebration event.

“Being given space to talk, explain my personal approach to making music made a big difference.” — Participant

After the session…

— 100% of participants felt their creativity had been enhance due to this project

— 66% of participants reported their motivation had increased by over 80%

— 33% of participants reported a 70% improvement in technical and transferrable skills.

— All reported an improvement in self-efficacy and agency because of this project

Melissa Bob-Amara who is Active Involvement Team Manager for Children Looked After and Care Leavers at London Borough of Bromley reported, “This project enables those accessing it to learn new skills, express themselves and to build new childhood memories. The young people that participated are all care leavers who have had complicated/difficult start to life and we think it’s important to create opportunities for them to process some of their life journey. Music enables them to be able to do this.

Some of the young people who participated in the project, had not previously met each other, but were given the opportunity make new friends in a creative environment. They individually have different needs and personally would have gained based on their starting point. These included, leaving home to engage, working with others to create music, staying committed throughout the programme and writing about a personal journey.”

Two participants arrived in the UK from Sudan 10 months ago, both are 17 year old males and learning English at College. “Producing music is so beneficial for X and X. We have offered them counselling, but it is very unusual for them, as it not something that exists in their culture. It’s great to see them communicating their feelings about missing their family through music.” — Social Worker

During the final day’s session there were many in depth conversations between participants, music leaders, ArtsTrain Producer and Social Workers, and it was clear this short music project benefited participants. In just three days (less for some who did not attend the entire time) our project outcomes where met and young people reported improved creativity, motivation, technical and transferrable skills, self-efficacy and agency.